Sheet combining device and a method for combining sheets

ABSTRACT

A sheet combining device includes at least one former, at least one longitudinal cutter, and at least two partial web guide routes. A respective partial sheet of partial cut webs can be conveyed on each of the at least two partial web guide routes. These sheets can be combined to form a principal sheet at an exit of the sheet combining device. A stapler is provided on one of the at least two partial web guide routes and is used to staple the partial sheet which is conveyed on that guide route.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is the U.S. national phase, under 35 USC 371 ofPCT/DE2003/003993, filed Dec. 5, 2003; published as WO 2004/054914 A1 onJul. 1, 2004; and claiming priority to DE 102 59 655.7, filed Dec. 18,2002, to DE 103 21 021.0 filed May 10, 2003 and to DE 103 25 226.6,filed Jun. 4, 2003, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporatedherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to devices for mixing continuous webs,and to a method for mixing continuous webs. The devices include at leastone former, at least one longitudinal cutter and at least two guidepaths. Each guide path receives a partial continuous web.

The present invention more particularly directed to a mixing device foruse with continuous webs which can be used in the printing ofnewspapers. The mixing device is situated between a printing press and atransverse folding device in order to bring a plurality of imprintedpaper webs into an arrangement which is desired for the finished printedproduct. The present invention, in particular, relates to a mixingdevice for continuous webs which are suitable for printed products intabloid format.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

DE 43 26 855 A1 discloses a mixing device for continuous webs, having aformer and two guide paths, on each of which a cut partial web isconducted. One of the partial webs is provided with glue along its pathand is subsequently glued together with the second partial web. Inanother embodiment, two continuous webs run over two formers. One of thecontinuous webs is stapled by a stapler and the other continuous web isglued in its path before they are both combined in a main continuousweb.

A mixing device for continuous webs with at least one former is knownfrom DE 43 44 362 A1. The continuous web leaving the former can beselectively conducted around one or the other side of a further formerlocated underneath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is directed to providing mixingdevices for continuous webs, and to a method for mixing continuous webs.

In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by theprovision of a continuous web mixing device with at least one former, atleast one longitudinal cutter that is useable to cut a longitudinal webdelivered to the former, either before or after the former, and at leasttwo guide paths. Each of these guide paths can receive a partial webcoming from the former. These partial webs can be treated separatelyalong each one's guide path. The treated partial webs can be united in acontinuous web mixing device. They can also be united with another webcoming from a second former.

The advantages to be obtained by the present invention lie, inparticular, in that the mixing device for continuous webs permits theproduction of multi-layered products, and in particular permits theproduction of tabloid products, in which at least one layer of theproduct is stapled.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the continuous webmixing device makes do without turning bars.

The costs of the device are reduced because of this elimination ofturning bars. Furthermore, drawing webs of material to be processed intothe device, prior to its being put into operation, can be accomplishedsimply and rapidly. Moreover, the elimination of the need to turn thewebs reduces the susceptibility of the continuous web mixing device tooperational malfunctions.

In this case, the continuous web mixing device can have at least onesecond former and can also have a guide path for guiding a secondpartial continuous web from the second former to the outlet. By the useof such a device, a partial continuous web, from the continuous web thatwas cut apart by the longitudinal cutter, can be mixed with the secondpartial continuous web from the second former to constitute a firstbook. The other partial continuous web from the continuous web cut apartby the longitudinal cutter is stapled and can become a second book.

A folding apparatus is preferably connected to the outlet of thecontinuous web mixing device. Tabloid products can be finished by theuse of the folding apparatus from the continuous web exiting thecontinuous web mixing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in thedrawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1, a side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of acontinuous web mixing device in accordance with the present invention,in

FIG. 2, a side elevation view of a second preferred embodiment of acontinuous web mixing device, in

FIG. 3, a side elevation view of a third preferred embodiment of acontinuous web mixing device, in

FIG. 4, side elevation view of a fourth preferred embodiment of acontinuous web mixing device, and in

FIG. 5A to 5M, product examples of folded products provided using theabove-described preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first preferred embodiment of a continuous web mixing device 01 inaccordance with the present invention is represented in FIG. 1 andcomprises two formers 02, 03, guide roller pairs 04, 06, 18, twolongitudinal cutters 07, 08, deflection rollers 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16,two traction rollers 05, 10, as well as a stapler 17. A foldingapparatus 19 is connected to the continuous web mixing device 01, whichfolding apparatus 19 comprises a cylinder 21, such as, for example, acutting cylinder 21, a cylinder 22, such as, for example, a cuttinggroove, point and folding blade cylinder 22, as well as a cylinder 23,such as, for example, a folding jaw cylinder 23.

A first continuous web 24 is pulled through the former 03 in thedirection of the draw-in arrow. The first continuous web 24 isconstituted of a plurality of parallel running paper webs 24, whichtogether are processed into tabloid products. In the course of theirpassage through the former 03, the longitudinally-cut, parallel runningpartial webs, running side-by-side over the former 03, are broughttogether. Following their passage over the former 03, the foldedcontinuous web 24, which here is comprised of a plurality of partialwebs placed on top of each other, runs over guide rollers 06 andterminates in one or both of the traction rollers 05, 10, or in one ofthe traction roller groups 05, 10. After passing through the former 03,the continuous web 24 therefore consists of twice the number of parallelextending paper webs 24 which paper webs 24, however, are of a lesserwidth than was the paper web 24 prior to its entry in the former 03. Thecontinuous web 24 is conducted over the deflection rollers 14, 16 to theguide rollers 18 and leaves the continuous web mixing machine 01 viathese guide rollers 18.

A different, second continuous web 26 is correspondingly conducted intothe other former 02. This continuous web 26 also consists of a pluralityof parallel extending individual paper webs which are assembled afterhaving been longitudinally cut and moved apart. This continuous web 26can be obtained, for example, together with the continuous web 24, bylongitudinally cutting a double-width web which was previously imprintedin a printing press prior to its entry into the continuous web mixingdevice 01.

The partial webs of the second continuous web 26 are brought together inthe associated former 02 and, after leaving the former 02, are fed viathe guide rollers 04 to one or both of the traction rollers 10, 05.Leaving the traction roller or rollers 10, 05, the second continuous web26 is conducted to the deflection roller 09 where, in contrast to thefirst continuous web 24, it is divided into two partial continuous webs27, 28, such as, for example, partial paper webs 27, 28.

From the deflection roller 09, a first partial continuous web 28 isconducted, via the deflection roller 11, to the guide roller 18, i.e. tothe outlet of the continuous web mixing device 01. It is combined therewith the first continuous web 24. Since the continuous webs 24 and 26,or the continuous web 24 and the partial continuous webs 27, 28 arebrought together in the area of the guide rollers 18, the place orlocation where they are brought together, in the area of the guiderollers 18, is called an outlet although, strictly structurallyconsidered, this outlet or place of web combination can also be locatedfurther downstream with respect to the continuous web.

The second partial continuous web 27 runs from the deflection roller 09to the stapler 17. The stapler 17 staples each of the paper webs 27,constituting the partial continuous web 27, before the second partialcontinuous web 27 enters the folding device 19, together along a linebetween two sides of the printed image generated on them, along whichline a transverse fold will later be generated, in the course of thepassage of the second partial continuous web 27 through the foldingapparatus 19. After leaving the stapler 17 the second partial continuousweb 27, now consisting of paper webs 27 stapled together in some places,is also conducted over the deflection rollers 12,13 to the guide roller18 and is united there with the first partial continuous web 28, as wellas with the first continuous web 24. In this way, a main continuous web29, which is composed of the yet not stapled paper webs of the firstcontinuous web 24, of the yet not stapled paper webs 28 of the firstpartial continuous web 28, and of the stapled paper webs 27 of thesecond partial continuous web 27, leaves the guide rollers 18 which, asdiscussed above, constitute the outlet from the continuous web mixingdevice 01.

This resultant main continuous web 29 now enters between the cuttingcylinder 21 and the cutting groove, point and folding blade cylinder 22of the folding apparatus 19. A folding jaw cylinder 23 follows thecutting groove, point and folding blade cylinder 22. The main continuousweb 29 is cut, in a generally known manner, into individual productsbetween the cylinders 21, 22 of the folding apparatus, which cut,individual products are subsequently transversely folded between thecylinders 22, 23. The tabloid products produced by the continuous webmixing device 01 depicted in FIG. 1 have an outer, not stapled layer andan inner, stapled layer.

It is possible, at the deflection roller 09, to distribute theindividual paper webs consisting of the second continuous web 26 asdesired, to form the two partial continuous webs 27, 28, and to providethe one paper web 26 corresponding respectively to four pages of thefinished printed product, so that the change of the stapled layer intocuts of respectively four pages can be selected as desired.

The continuous web mixing device 01 is not limited to the specificembodiment represented in FIG. 1. For example, it is possible to modifythe continuous web mixing device 01 in such a way that the stapler 17 isarranged in the guide path for the first partial continuous web 28,instead of being arranged in the guide path for the second partialcontinuous web 27. In that configuration, the paper webs constitutingthe first partial continuous web 28 are stapled together atpredetermined locations by the stapler 17, while the paper webs 27constituting the second partial continuous web 27 remain not stapled.After uniting the first and second partial continuous webs 27, 28 withthe first continuous web 24, for formation into the main continuous web29 at the outlet of the continuous web mixing device 01 at the guiderollers 18, and after passing the formed main continuous web 29 throughthe folding apparatus 19, tabloid products are produced by thealternative embodiment of the continuous web mixing device 01, whichtabloid products have three layers, in which tabloid product an outerlayer and an inner layer are not stapled, while a layer between thesetwo layers is stapled.

The second continuous web 26 could, of course, also be conducted in onepiece, possibly together with paper webs branched off from the firstcontinuous web 24, through the stapler 17 if a larger size is desiredfor the stapled layer than for the one not stapled.

Depending on the width of the printing press which is arranged upstreamof the continuous web mixing device 01, the continuous web mixing device01 can also have more than two formers. The partial continuous webconducted through the stapler 17 can then be a part of a longitudinallycut continuous web coming from one of the formers, or can alsoconstitute this continuous web in its entirety and can additionallycontain paper webs from a continuous web coming from an adjoiningformer.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the longitudinal cutteror cutters 07, 08 is or are not arranged upstream of the respectiveformer or formers 02, 03, but is or are located downstream of therespective former or formers 02, 03. In this case, the folded continuousweb 29 is cut open at the folded spine downstream of the former 02, 03.

In an embodiment of the present invention, which is represented in FIG.2, at least two continuous web guides of the first and second partialcontinuous webs 28 and 27 are assigned to a former 02 and to thecontinuous web 26 formed by this embodiment. For this purpose, thecontinuous web 26 is longitudinally cut, either upstream or downstreamof the former 02, as mentioned above, and is then divided onto thecontinuous web guides of the first and second partial continuous webs 28and 27. At least one of the continuous web guides, however, and in anadvantageous manner both of the continuous web guides, here have astapler 17 along their path. One or both of the partial continuous paperwebs 27, 28 can be stapled before the partial paper webs 27, 28 areagain combined into a product and are further processed in the foldingapparatus 19.

As indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 2, a third partial continuous paperweb 31 can also be conducted out of the continuous web 26 and can bestapled by the use of a possibly provided stapler 17, before it, too, isagain combined to form the product 29. A continuous web guide is alsoshown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, wherein a fourth different partialcontinuous paper web 32 is conducted, for example without being reroutedand/or without being stapled, straight downward to the entry into thefolding apparatus 19.

A particular advantage of the embodiment of the present invention, inaccordance with FIG. 2, lies in that it is possible to considerablyreduce the number of formers 02, 03 required in connection with theformation of several “books” of a product, which several books have beenstapled separately of each other, or, in part, have not been stapled.For example, in connection with a similar variability of the product itis possible to save an additional former, such as a balloon former whichwould otherwise be arranged upstream of the former 02. Considerableconstruction costs and structural size can be saved by this eliminationof one or more formers.

In a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, as seen inFIG. 3, the two partial continuous paper webs 27, 28 are conducted fromthe former 02 around both sides of a former 03 which former 03 is, forexample, located underneath the former 02, via deflection rollers 09,09′. As was discussed in connection with the first describedembodiments, a stapler 17, which is represented by dashed lines, can bearranged on one of the two, or on both of the continuous web guides ofthe partial continuous paper webs 27, 28. Upstream of the foldingapparatus 19, the two partial continuous paper webs 27, 28 are broughttogether with the continuous web 24 from the lower former 03, whereinthe continuous web 24 comes to lie between the two partial continuouspaper webs 27, 28. In an advantageous embodiment of the presentinvention, as seen in FIG. 3, a stapler 17′ can be arranged in the pathof the continuous web guide of the continuous web 24 in addition to, orin place of the stapler or staplers 17 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3.In an embodiment of the invention, and which is distinguished by greatflexibility, the continuous web guide of the continuous web 24, as wellas at least one of the continuous web guides of the partial continuouspaper webs 27, 28, which are moving around both sides of the former 03,each have a stapler 17, 17′. If it is desired to provide an even morevariable production capability, the continuous web guides of the threecontinuous webs 24, 27, 28 each have a stapler 17, 17′.

Additional continuous bypass guides 33, 34, as indicated in dashed linesby way of example in FIG. 3, can be provided in all three of thediscussed preferred embodiments, by the use of which, a portion of the,for example, again divided continuous web 24, 27, 28, or the entirecontinuous web 24, 27, 28 can be guided around a stapler 17, 17′, whichis located on a continuous guide, without being stapled. In connectionwith this, only two bypass continuous web guides 33, 34, which areschematically represented without deflection rollers, are shown indashed lines in FIG. 3. However, these bypass continuous web guides 33,34 can be optionally transferred, in a further development, toindividual or to several continuous webs 24, 27, 28 from theabove-described three preferred embodiments.

In a fourth preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 4, respectively onestapler 17, 17′ is assigned to each of the two formers 02, 03, eachformer 02, 03 being provided with a longitudinal cutter 07, 08, in theguide path from the respective former 02, 03 to the outlet of thecontinuous web mixing device 01. The continuous web mixing device 01here has deflection rollers 09, 14, 36, 37, via which deflection rollersone partial continuous paper web 28, or the entire continuous web 26 ofthe one former 02 can be passed, together with a partial continuous web27′, or with the entire continuous web 24 of this second former 03, 02,through the stapler 17′ which is assigned to the second former 03, or,in an advantageous embodiment, the web is passed through it. Therefore,it is not necessary to determine the correct approach to a former whichis already in a superstructure, which is not specifically represented,by turning partial webs. Instead, after passing through the formers 02,03, the partial webs can still be assigned to the other partialcontinuous web 27′, or to the continuous web 24. It is also possible toprocess all of the partial webs, such as the two folded and cutcontinuous webs 24, 26, into a product through one of the staplers 17′,17. In the same way, is it possible that a partial continuous paper web28, together with a continuous web 24, or with a partial continuouspaper web 27′ of the other former 03, is stapled, while the remainingpartial continuous paper web 27 of the first former 02 passes throughthe assigned stapler 17 without being stapled such as, for example, ifi.e. the stapler is not switched on or is out of service. Thearrangement discussed above with the above-mentioned reference numerals,is to be applied symmetrically to the opposite guide.

By the use of the above-mentioned guide paths over both of the depictedstaplers 17, 17′, a main continuous web 29, at the outlet of the mixingdevice 01, can be attained in a first mode of operation, which web 29has a portion of one or several layers not stapled by passing through,for example, switched-off staplers 17, 17′, and a portion with severallayers stapled together, as is represented in FIG. 5 a from the insideto the outside). In a second mode of operation, as seen in FIG. 5 b, themain continuous web is constituted by two portions, each of which hasseveral layers stapled together, and where the number of layers betweenthe two portions can be variable by utilization of the above mentionedbypass.

In an advantageous manner, the continuous web mixing device 01 hasfurther deflection rollers 11, 16, over which partial continuous paperwebs 28, 28′ of the one and/or of the other former 02, 03 is or areconducted without passing through one of the staplers 17, 17′. As seenin FIG. 4, these webs 28, 28′ move along an appropriate guide pathbetween the two staplers 17, 17′.

By the use of this, the above-mentioned modes of operation of thepresent invention, and the products resulting therefrom as the main,continuous web 29 can be expanded in such a way that, in a third mode ofoperation, an additional portion with one or with several layers, whichare not stapled, is introduced, in addition to the previously mentionedsequences between the already mentioned portions, in particular as thetwo stapled portions of the second mode of operation, as seen in FIG. 5c. The number and origin of the layer or layers of this last mentionedportion is or are variable. It or they can come from one, from theother, or from both of the formers 02, 03.

Even more flexible, with regard to the product to be produced, thecontinuous web mixing device 01 can be embodied with additionaldeflection rollers 09, 09′, 10, 10′, 11, 12, all as seen in FIG. 4, overwhich additional deflection rollers a partial continuous web 27, 28,27′, 28′, exiting from at least one of the formers 02, 03, can beconducted on an outside of the continuous web mixing device 01, aroundthe two staplers 17, 17′ to the outlet 18, without passing through oneof the staplers 17, 17′. In FIG. 4, such an adjoining guide path,identified as bypass continuous web guide 33, 34, is provided for eachof the two formers 02, 03. This makes it possible, in addition to thetwo first-mentioned modes of operation and also in addition to the thirdmode of operation, to add to the previously mentioned sequence ofportions, a further portion with one or with several layers, whichlayers have not been stapled, and located on the one and/or on the otherexterior continuous web side of the main continuous web 29 now obtained,or to actually add it. Thus, for example, in a fourth mode of operationin accordance with the present invention, a sequence of one unstapledportion, a stapled portion, an unstapled portion and a further stapledportion, as shown in FIG. 5 d, and in a fifth mode of operation, anadditional unstapled portion, as seen in FIG. 5 e, is made possible oris provided. In a sixth mode of operation, as depicted in FIG. 5F, thereis formed a sequence of an unstapled portion, a stapled portion and asecond stapled portion, and in a seventh mode of operation an additionalfurther unstapled portion, as seen in FIG. 5 g, can be achieved or isproduced.

The above-mentioned deflection rollers 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 36, 37are preferably embodied as rollers 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, and inparticular are provided as friction-driven 09, 11,12,13,14, 16.

The main continuous web 29 is subsequently transversely cut in thefolding apparatus 19, and the product sections obtained, as a result ofthis cutting are transversely folded, for example.

The transversely folded products, which can be obtained with theabove-mentioned modes of operation, are represented, by way of example,in FIGS. 5 a to 5 g. In this case, the number of layers per portion,either stapled or not stapled, has been selected only as example. Anumber of layers in the portion can also be higher or lower than isrepresented. Different portions can have different numbers of layers.Particularly in connection with portions which are not stapled, thenumber of layers can also be 1. Stapling is indicated schematically inFIGS. 5 a-5 m by a line connecting the layers in the area of the foldedspine.

The products which can be obtained by the different modes of operationof the device in accordance with FIG. 1 are also represented in FIG. 5.FIG. 5 a shows a product which results where bypassing of a partialcontinuous paper web 28, which is not intended to be stapled, takesplace.

The products produced by different modes of operation of the device inaccordance with FIG. 2 can also be seen from FIG. 5, but notexhaustively. For example, the product in accordance with FIG. 5 a withone stapler switched off and FIG. 5 b with only the partial continuouspaper webs 27, 28 shown in solid lines, can be produced. The arrangementshown in FIG. 5 c can be produced without taking a guidance of thepartial continuous paper web 31 into consideration, such as is providedin a basic version of the second embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2,but with a possibility of the partial continuous paper web 32. With aleft stapler 17 provided, with the center stapler 17 switched off ornon-existent, as well as with the right stapler 17 turned on, theconfiguration shown in FIG. 5 c can also be achieved with the partialcontinuous web 31, without guidance of the partial continuous web 32.With the center stapler 17 additionally turned on, the configuration ofFIG. 5 j can be achieved. If, however, the left stapler 17 is notprovided or is instead switched off, the configuration of FIG. 5 m canbe realized. FIG. 5 h shows a possible product created by the use of alldrawn in guides and with the three staplers 17 all turned on.

In addition to the products shown in FIGS. 5 a to 5 g, and mentioned inthe portion of the specification in connection with FIG. 4, but to betransferred to operating situations with selectively switched-off or notprovided staplers 17, 17′, or with used or unused bypasses 33, 34, aproduct in accordance with FIG. 5 i is possible with use of the devicein accordance with FIG. 3 taking the bypass 33 and three staplers 17,17′ into consideration, and without the bypass 33, but with the bypass34, the reverse of the product shown in FIG. 5 h. If all threecontinuous webs or partial continuous webs 24, 27, 28, drawn in solidlines, have a stapler 17, 17′, the product in accordance with FIG. 5 jcan be produced from three portions without a further bypass 33, 34. Ifa stapler 17′ is only provided for the continuous web 24, or selectivelyonly this one of the two or three staplers 17, 17′ is switched on, aproduct in accordance with FIG. 5 k results.

The product sequence in the representation from the inside to theoutside can be reversed, either by an appropriate guidance through thecontinuous web mixing device 01, or by changing the folding apparatus19.

It is of particular advantage that, as a rule, the above-mentionedproducts can be made, at least to a large extent, without turning, andin particular without previous turning of partial webs in asuperstructure upstream of the formers 02, 03. The partial webs to beassigned to one or to the other continuous web, or the partialcontinuous web 24, 27, 28, are transferred to the desired location inthe continuous web mixing device 01.

While preferred embodiments of a sheet combining device and a method forcombining sheets, in accordance with the present invention, have beenset forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to oneof skill in the art that various changes in, for example, the type ofprinting press used to print the web, the specific drives for thevarious rollers and cylinders, and the like could be made withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the present invention whichis accordingly to be limited only by the appended claims.

1. A continuous web mixing device comprising: a first former; a firstlongitudinal cutting device associated with said first former andadapted to cut a first continuous web, constituted of a first pluralityof parallel webs into first and second cut partial first continuous webseach constituted of said first plurality of parallel webs; at least onefirst former guide path; a first stapler associated with said firstformer guide path; a second former; a second longitudinal cutting deviceassociated with said second former, and adapted to cut a secondcontinuous web, constituted of a second plurality of parallel webs intofirst and second cut partial second continuous webs each constituted ofsaid second plurality of said parallel web; at least one second formerguide path; a second stapler associated with said second former guidepath; an outlet for said continuous web mixing device; and at least afirst deflection roller intermediate said first and second formers andsaid outlet, one of said first continuous web and of said first andsecond ones of said first and second cut partial continuous webs, eachassociated with its separate one of said first and second formers, beingconducted through said one of said first and second staplers which isassociated with the other of said first and second formers together withone of said second continuous web and of said first and second ones ofsaid first and second cut partial continuous webs associated with theother one of said first and second formers.
 2. The continuous web mixingdevice of claim 1 further including a second deflection roller adaptedto conduct at least one of said first and second cut partial first andsecond continuous webs and of said first and second continuous webs fromsaid first and second formers to said outlet and not passing through oneof said first and second staplers.
 3. The continuous web mixing deviceof claim 1 further including a second deflection roller adapted to guideone of said first and second cut partial continuous first and secondcontinuous webs around said first and second stapler and along anoutside of said continuous web mixing device.